PACT Act Benefits: What Veterans Need to Know

Those who served in combat zones since Vietnam or were exposed to toxins are eligible

Aaron Kassraie,

AARP

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En español

Published August 04, 2022

/ Updated September 03, 2024

Veterans who were exposed to burn pits may submit a PACT Act claim to receive benefits.

REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo

What benefits does the PACT Act provide veterans?

All veterans who served in combat zones since the Vietnam War, along with veterans who were exposed to hazardous materials while training or on active duty, may enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Any veteran who participated in what the VA terms a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) is eligible. The category covers veterans exposed to air pollutants including burn pits, sand and dust; chemicals including pesticides, herbicides, depleted uranium and contaminated water; occupational hazards including asbestos, lead and firefighting foams; radiation; warfare agents including chemical and biological weapons; and more.
There is no deadline for eligible veterans to enroll directly in VA health care. However, the VA encourages veterans to apply now, so they have access to care when they need it.
More than 20 illnesses are considered presumptive conditions for burn pit and other toxic exposures, meaning veterans will not have to prove that their service caused their condition. This reduces the paperwork required and the need for a disability exam before being granted access to health care and compensation. The list includes certain types of cancers across all eligible service eras. Survivors of veterans who died due to one of these conditions may also be eligible for benefits.
Locations were added to the list of places where it’s presumed service members were exposed to toxins.
Every veteran enrolled in VA health care can get a toxic exposure screening and a follow-up screening at least once every five years.
There have been improvements to research, staff education, outreach and treatment related to toxic exposures.

Note: A “presumptive” service connection means VA automatically assumes that a particular disability is linked to military service, making it eligible for disability compensation.

Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans

Post-9/11 veterans who served in any combat zone are eligible for VA health care. Those who weren’t deployed but were exposed to toxins or other hazards are eligible too.
These cancers are considered presumptive conditions: Brain, glioblastoma, kidney, melanoma, neck and pancreas, along with any type of cancer that is gastrointestinal, head-related, lymphatic, lymphoma, reproductive and respiratory.
Other conditions presumed to be connected to service: Asthma diagnosed after service, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, constrictive or obliterative bronchiolitis, emphysema, granulomatous disease, interstitial lung disease, pleuritis, pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis.
Post-9/11 veterans who served in these locations are presumed to have been exposed to burn pit toxins: Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen — and any airspace above these locations.
Gulf War and post-9/11-era veterans who served in these locations are presumed to have been exposed to burn pits: Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the United Arab Emirates — and any airspace above these countries.
Other presumptive conditions linked to exposure to hazardous conditions may be eligible for disability benefits.
Service members may be eligible to enroll in VA health care as a Gulf War or post 9/11 veteran if they meet certain location or mission requirements. See the VA’s full criteria for health care eligibility.

Vietnam-era veterans

Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, including in Thailand, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Atoll and certain provinces in Cambodia, are eligible to enroll in VA health care without having to apply for VA benefits first. They are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. Eligible service dates differ by location.
Presumptive conditions related to Agent Orange include high blood pressure and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Certain cancers, type 2 diabetes and other illnesses may also be covered. For all Agent Orange presumptive conditions, refer to the detailed list.
Veterans are presumed to have been exposed to radiation if they served during designated periods in Enewetak Atoll or Palomares, Spain, or they responded to a fire onboard a bomber carrying nuclear weapons near Thule Air Base in Greenland.

Survivor benefits under the PACT Act

Survivors of service members may be eligible for the following benefits:

Dependency and indemnity compensation
A onetime accrued benefits payment
A survivors pension
Health care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)
A burial allowance for help with a veteran’s funeral costs and burial costs for qualifying spouses, partners or children
Education and career benefits
A VA-backed home loan

How to submit a claim for PACT Act benefits

Full details and eligibility information related to the PACT Act may be accessed at VA.gov/PACT or by calling 800-MyVA411 (698-2411).
Claims can be filed online, by mail, in person or with the help of a trained professional from a Veteran Service Organization (VSO).
Claims for conditions that were denied but are now considered presumptive should be filed through a supplemental claim.
Any veteran who thinks they are eligible is encouraged to submit their claim now.

Most common conditions for PACT Act-related claims

Hypertensive vascular disease
Allergic rhinitis
Maxillary sinusitis
Bronchial asthma
Chronic bronchitis

Most common reasons for a denied PACT Act claim

No diagnosis
Not caused by service
Not established by presumption

VA priority groups

Once a veteran is approved for VA health care, they will be assigned to one of eight priority groups based off factors such as military service history, disability rating, income Medicaid eligibility and any other benefits they may be receiving. The priority group a veteran is assigned to may determine the amount of out-of-pocket costs for care.

Veterans with service-connected disabilities will receive the highest priority. Those who earn a higher income without a disability are assigned a lower priority.

For additional information about the PACT Act and eligibility requirements, go to VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MyVA411.

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Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. 